The Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) held the Türkiye – Ethiopia Trade and Business Forum event at the MÜSİAD Head Office. At the event, which was attended by deputy ministers as well as MÜSİAD members, an Ethiopian delegation of about 70 people was also present in order to hold B2B meetings.
The MÜSİAD Türkiye – Ethiopia Trade and Business Forum took place at the MÜSİAD Head Office. At the programme, held with the participation of Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye Mustafa Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ambassador Misganu Arega, Director General for East and Southern Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye Ambassador Ms. Elif Çomoğlu Ülgen, Ethiopia's Ambassador to Türkiye Mr. Adem Mohamed and MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı, business practices, trade between Ethiopia and Türkiye and incentives were discussed. At the end of the programme, B2B meetings were held between the Turkish and Ethiopian delegations.
Delivering the opening remarks at the programme, Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye Mustafa Tuzcu noted that they aim for the trade volume with Ethiopia, which continues to rise, to increase further.
In his speech Tuzcu said: “Within the framework of the “Strategy for the Development of Commercial and Economic Relations with African Countries” put into practice in 2003, we will continue to work in order to raise our relations in the fields of trade, investment and contracting to much higher levels with Ethiopia, the largest economy of the Horn of Africa and one of the fastest growing economies of Africa, as we do with the entire continent."
“Above all, a plane of ‘brotherhood’”
In his opening speech within the scope of the forum, MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı said that the relations Türkiye has established with African countries above all on a plane of brotherhood have made the commercial activities between them healthier.
In his speech, President Asmalı said:
“The multidimensional foreign policy understanding our country has adopted, particularly over the past 20 years, is leading Türkiye to make openings towards regions that were neglected in the past. We can state that the most successful of these openings has been towards African countries. Türkiye, an Afro-Eurasian country from the Ottoman period to the present day, has entered a new era with African countries in recent years, when economic and political balances have changed and new powers have emerged, particularly since 2005. In particular, the declaration of 2005 as the “Year of Africa” and the “Türkiye-Africa Partnership Summit” held in 2008 have been very important turning points in this context.
The relations Türkiye has established with African countries above all on a plane of brotherhood, the commercial organizations developed and, alongside these, humanitarian aid activities have paved the way for the healthy development of relations between the actors. Türkiye will continue to share its own historical experience, its social, political and cultural accumulation and the means and resources it possesses with African administrations and peoples within the framework of the principle of “African solutions to African problems” and on the basis of mutual benefit. This understanding forms the foundation of our partnership policy.
Therefore, the African continent occupies a very important place for us. We have brothers in Africa, and as MÜSİAD we are working to win together with our brothers in Africa. It is with this principle that we will work together, develop together and, God willing, win together,” he said.
MÜSİAD EXPO 2025 May Be Held in Ethiopia
Touching on the matter of MÜSİAD EXPO, which is part of MÜSİAD's international strategy, being held abroad, President Mahmut Asmalı said that the Ethiopia option is viewed favourably.
Saying that they are considering holding the International MÜSİAD EXPO Trade Fair, which is organized in İstanbul every 2 years and whose 20th edition will be held this year, in Africa next year, Asmalı said, “We have a strategic plan to hold MÜSİAD EXPO one year in Türkiye and one year abroad. In this context, it is an important matter for EXPO to go beyond our country's borders and bring gains to our country. God willing, next year we will hold MÜSİAD EXPO in Africa. Ethiopia is among the leading countries where we would like to hold it.”
After the opening speeches, the business forum continued with a B2B meetings programme attended by 70 business people from Ethiopia and more than 200 from Türkiye.
